A Lone Golfer Waiting For A Weekend Game

What could have been a blissful time on the course...

- T.P. Kannan

After a busy week in the office, the least that a golfer worth his salt may look forward to at the weekend is a round of golf. Blissful four hours, devoid of the bane of the stressful office and domestic preoccupations. The blue sky above, just green grass below, a cool breeze...

But try getting a game­slot on a Saturday or Sunday on your own. This is what will happen.

You couldn’t book one because the slot booking rules demanded that you give at least three players’ names, but you are a loner. You go to the course around 1.30 and tell the marshal you would like to play. He asks you to wait as there are several four­ball groups. One three­ball, the last group, is scheduled to tee off at 2.34 p.m., and you may perhaps join them.

You sit on a bench under the shade watching team after team tee o. The first few minutes of watching are interesting — two OBs, one water hazard, two hitting the trees and one powerful air shot with intermittent fairway shots. But as time passes you get restless. The shade is not of much help. It’s a hot day. The penultimate group on the tee box leaves. And the last group you are to join is nowhere to be seen.